Going to College
2013
Patrician Secondary School
3rd December 2012
Overview of Presentation
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The Education System in Ireland - NFQ
How the CAO application system works
Making your CAO application
HEAR/DARE Schemes
UCAS
PLC
Student Grants (15m video)
Useful Resources
Options after School
2nd Level
Course Duration
FETAC
FÁS, TEAGASC, PLC,
Fáilte Ireland, BIM
Institutes of Technology
Universities
Level 5: 1 Year
Level 6: 2 & 3 Years
Level 6: Higher Certificate
Level 7: Ordinary Degree
Level 8: Honours Degree
Level 8: 3 & 4 Yr
Honours Degrees
CAO – General Info.
• Centralised application system for all Irish 3rd level
institutions, including fee-paying colleges.
• Every 6th year should now have a CAO Handbook
• Application Dates and Fees
All fees are non-refundable.
Normal application (online or paper) €40
Online discounted rate
€25
Late online application
€50
Late paper application
€80
Change of Mind until
FEE CLOSING DATE
1st Feb 2013 (5:15 pm )
20th Jan 2012 (5:15 pm)
1st May 2012 (5:15 pm)
1st May 2012 (5:15 pm)
1st July 2012 (5:15 pm)
CAO – General Info.
• Since 2005 there are 3 types of courses students can apply
for under the Nat. Qualifications Framework.
• These are applied for on 2 separate lists on a single form:
Level 6 & 7 Courses
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Level 8 Courses
Ordinary Degrees (7)
Higher Certificates (6)
Honours Degrees (8)
Up to 10 Course Choices
Up to 10 Course Choices
The courses are clearly labelled in the CAO Handbook
N.B. – Care must be taken with courses marked
‘Restricted’.
These courses cannot be applied for after February 1st
due to extra assessments required.
POINTS SYSTEM
Generally in the CAO system
No. of qualified applicants > No. of course places
--> selection system is needed.
Selection system used in Irish 3rd Level Colleges is
POINTS SYSTEM
• Points are calculated from ONE sitting of the Leaving
Certificate only.
• Points total is calculated from SIX best subjects
• Bonus points are awarded for Honours Mathematics by
– All colleges.
• Entry Requirements can be satisfied over more than one sitting
of the Leaving Certificate (except for Medicine)
POINTS ALLOCATION
Grade Honours
A1
100
A2
90
B1
85
B2
80
B3
75
C1
70
C2
65
C3
60
D1
55
D2
50
D3
45
Ordinary
60
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
Bonus Points For Honours Maths
+25
+25
+25
+25
+25
+25
+25
+25
+25
+25
+25
LCVP Points
Distinction
70
Merit
50
Pass
30
Making an application
• Applications can be made online or by paper form – use
one method only. (€10 charge if 2 applications sent)
• Always keep proof of sending application: online – print
screen receipt, paper – obtain certificate of post.
• Form is very straight forward to fill out.
• www.cao.ie
**VERY IMPORTANT**
• Students must fill out both course lists in:
Genuine Order of Preference
• They should not put down courses on the basis of their
predictions of next years cut off points or their own points
scores.
College & Faculty
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
These must be satisfied before “points” are
considered.
Minimum College Entry
Requirements
E.g. UCD
• Pass 6 subjects
• At least 2 HC3
• Pass in:
Irish
 English
 Another Language
 Mathematics*
 Science Subject*
Specific Faculty
Requirements
E.g.s
Engineering(UCD)
• HC3 Maths
Veterinary Medicine(UCD)
• HC3 Chemistry
French Law(UCD)
• HB3 French
If all Entry Requirements are met  applicant is deemed
‘Qualified’ to apply.
So – what is the best way to fill in the courses?
www.cao.ie
You do not need to guess what the points are going to be
for the courses you are interested in.
Simply list your courses in genuine order of preference
from the highest preference 1, to the lowest preference 10.
If you are entitled to an offer, you will be offered the
highest preference that you are entitled to.
HEAR Scheme
The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) is a
college and university admissions scheme which offers
places at reduced points to school leavers from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. Assessed on
combination of:
• Parental income www.cao.ie
• Medical card
• Social welfare recipient
• Parental occupation
• Geographic location of family home
• Attendance at DEIS school
DARE Scheme
• The Disability Access Route to Education
(DARE) is a college and university admissions
scheme which offers places at reduced points to
school leavers with disabilities.
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Asperger's Syndrome/Autism
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Blind / Vision Impaired
Deaf / Hearing Impaired
DCD-Dyspraxia/Dysgraphia
Mental Health Condition
Neurological Conditions (incl. Brain Injury, Speech and Language Disabilities)
Significant Ongoing Illness
Physical Disability
Specific Learning Difficulties (incl. Dyslexia & Dyscalculia)
www.ucas.com
UCAS
Closing Dates
• 15th October 2012: Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary
Medicine and all courses at Oxford and Cambridge
Universities
• 15th January 2013: All other courses except
• 24th March 2013: Art & Design
Requirements
• Expected grades in Leaving Cert
• Personal Statement
PLC
Post Leaving Cert Courses
A Different Route to Choosing
a Career !
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Why Choose a PLC?
 To Develop Vocational, Practical or Technical Skills
 Prefer not to commit to 3-4 Years Study
 Points System not used
 Unsure of final Career Choice
 Stepping Stone to Further Study
FETAC Route
 Progression into 41 HEI’s via FETAC 5, 6
 Places offered on a Merit basis using
scoring system
Some Examples of PLC Courses Available
 Sport & Recreation, Leisure Management, Horsemanship
 Journalism, Media, Film Production, Creative Writing
 Pre-Nursing, Childcare
 Drama, Dance, Costume Design, Art & Design, Music,
Photography
 Information Technology
 Marketing, Business Studies (General & Secretarial)
The Application Process
 Select a Course
 Apply to chosen college
 Apply Early !
 General Interview (or Audition)
Where ?
 Secondary Schools, Colleges, Community Education Centres
 Some Local Examples…
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Piper's Hill College, Naas
St Conleth’s Vocational School, Newbridge
Curragh Post Primary School, Curragh
Kildare College of Further Education, Kildare
Athy Community College, Athy
Portlaoise College, Laois
Carlow Institute of Further Education, Carlow
Ballyfermot College of Further Education, Dublin
Marino College, Dublin
Liberties College, Dublin
PLC Course Search
www.careersportal.ie
Student Grant
www.studentfinance.ie
Useful Resources
To assist with course research / application
Publications
• College Prospectuses – 2013 Entry
• Career Choice 2012 ed., Level Three Publication
• CAO Handbook 2012
Newspapers
• The Irish Times
Tuesdays
Education and Living Section
January
Special College Supplement
Series of articles - Brian Mooney
• The Independent
Careers Articles - Mary O Donnell
Internet
• Qualifax – www.qualifax.ie Irish courses
database CAO – www.cao.ie Contains
links to course websites
• Careers Portal -www.careersportal.ie
• College websites (Addresses in CAO
Handbook)
• UCAS -www.ucas.com
People
• Relatives
• Past pupils
• Admissions/Academic staff of colleges
(corresponding names and phone numbers on
inside cover of CAO handbook)
Guidance Counsellor
• Access to sources of information
• www.patriciansecondary.ie
And Finally…